New Delhi, 10 June (H.S.): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the deaths of four workers who died while cleaning a septic tank at a jewellery manufacturing unit in Gujarat’s Surat district. Describing the incident as a serious case of human rights violation, the Commission has issued notices to the Gujarat Chief Secretary and the Surat Police Commissioner, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission said media reports indicated that the incident occurred on June 7 when the workers entered the septic tank for cleaning operations without following mandatory safety protocols. They were reportedly exposed to toxic gases inside the tank and lost consciousness.

According to the reports, rescue personnel pulled the workers out and rushed them to a hospital, where doctors declared all four dead.

The NHRC observed that if the contents of the media reports are accurate, the incident represents a grave violation of human rights and raises serious concerns regarding workplace safety and compliance with established regulations.

The Commission has directed the authorities to submit a comprehensive report detailing the current status of the investigation, the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the compensation provided to the families of the deceased workers.

The NHRC also noted reports indicating that waste generated during the jewellery-cleaning process at the manufacturing unit was being deposited in the septic tank where the tragedy occurred.

The Commission's intervention is expected to bring greater scrutiny to workplace safety practices and accountability in hazardous cleaning operations, particularly those involving confined spaces and exposure to toxic substances.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar